Research Topics

General scientific objectives:

The majority of the human genome comprises non-coding sequences, which include long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Discriminated by their length of more than 200 nucleotides, lncRNAs are involved in complex biological processes, executed by a multitude of mechanisms: Whereas for some non-coding RNAs the RNA structure itself already provides functionality, others operate in RNA-protein-complexes. Consequently, their functional spread ranges from RNA catalysis over gene regulation and scaffolding to recruitment of chromatin modifying enzymes. First studies of our Institute suggest that lncRNAs and non-coding circular RNAs, which are generated by back-splicing, play critical roles in the cardiovascular system (Michalik et al., 20141; Boeckel et al., 20152; Boon et al, 20163; Neumann, Jaé et al., 20184). Recently, the lncRNA GATA6-AS was shown to regulate endothelial gene expression by association with the chromatin modifier LOXL2 (Neumann, Jaé et al., 20184). In addition we identified several hypoxia or disease-regulated lncRNAs and circRNAs, which are currently explored with respect to their function and molecular mechanism.